Saturday, 13 January 2018

AU ambassadors demand apology from Trump over ‘racist remarks’

African Union ambassadors to the UN demanded an apology from U.S.
President Donald Trump for his “racist remark” on the people of Africa.

The group of over 50 nations in a statement said: “the AU expressed
its disappointment and outrage over the unfortunate comment made by Mr
Donald Trump, President of the United States of America.

“The remarks dishonour the celebrated American creed and respect for diversity and human dignity.

“While expressing our shock, dismay and outrage, the African Union
truly believes that there is a huge misunderstanding of the African
continent and its people by the current administration.

“There is a serious need for dialogue between the U.S. administration
and the African countries. The African Union, through its member
States, values the strategic partnership with the U.S.

“This relationship should be from the point of equality and mutual
respect based on accepted international principles of respect for basic
human dignity of all,” the mission said.

The Mission demanded a retraction of the statement and an apology from the U.S. leader.

“The AU mission condemns the statement in the strongest terms and
demands a retraction of the comment as well as an apology to not only
the Africans but to all people of African descent across the globe.”

The U.S. president reportedly made the comment during a meeting with congressional leaders in the Oval Office on Thursday.

“Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come
here?” Trump allegedly said after being presented with a proposal to
restore protections for immigrants from the countries in question.
The UN has also branded as racist, the reported remark branding
Haiti, El Salvador and unspecified African nations as “shithole
countries”.

“If confirmed these are shocking and shameful comments from the
President of the United States. There is no other word you can use but
‘racist’.

“You cannot dismiss entire countries and continents as ‘shitholes’,
whose entire populations who are not white, are therefore not welcome,”
said Rupert Coleville, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights.